Former NBA star Jeremy Lin worked out at JOOLA’s headquarters in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose during a visit to Montgomery County, as he prepares for ESPN’s 2026 NBA Finals coverage after retiring from pro basketball in 2025.
For local basketball fans, the scene at JOOLA’s headquarters in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose looked familiar in a way it rarely does—one more glimpse of Jeremy Lin, in motion, working his way through training at an area facility that’s become a magnet for the sport.
Lin was in Montgomery County on Tuesday, spending time at JOOLA’s training facility. The visit comes with an extra layer of meaning for the region: the NBA Finals are close enough to feel, and the storyline is one local viewers are watching closely.
Lin. remembered by many for the 2011–12 stretch that turned into a cultural moment. has officially stepped into a new role on the basketball side of the game. He retired from professional basketball in 2025 and later joined ESPN as a studio analyst for its 2026 NBA Finals coverage. This time. he’s not chasing highlight reels on the court—he’s preparing to break down the game from firsthand experience.
For the public. that experience is tied to how quickly everything changed for Lin during his run with the New York Knicks. An undrafted guard out of Harvard University. he became a global sports and cultural phenomenon during the 2011–12 season after injuries thrust him into the starting lineup. Fans still talk about the streak that followed—“Linsanity” in the shorthand that stuck—because it happened in such a short window and with such improbable energy.
During those weeks. Lin led the Knicks on a remarkable winning streak. scored 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. hit a dramatic game-winning shot against Toronto. and helped revive New York’s playoff hopes. What began as an unexpected opportunity became one of the most memorable stories in modern sports history.
His career continued after that run with nine NBA seasons across multiple teams. including the Knicks. Houston Rockets. Charlotte Hornets. Brooklyn Nets. Atlanta Hawks. and Toronto Raptors. He earned an NBA championship ring with Toronto in 2019, later continuing his professional career overseas in China.
Now. the Finals coverage sets the stage for a different kind of connection—one that runs through Montgomery County basketball. too. Lin’s visit lands as the NBA Finals feature a storyline being followed by local fans: the New York Knicks. led in part by Silver Spring native and former Wheaton High School student Josh Hart. are facing the San Antonio Spurs in the championship series.
With the broadcast side as his next chapter. Lin’s training time in Pike & Rose isn’t just a stop on a calendar. It’s a reminder that the spotlight has shifted. but the basketball mind behind it is the same—working quietly now. preparing to bring a player’s perspective to ESPN’s 2026 Finals coverage.
Jeremy Lin JOOLA Pike & Rose North Bethesda Montgomery County ESPN 2026 NBA Finals New York Knicks San Antonio Spurs Josh Hart Wheaton High School
Wait he’s training at JOOLA like it’s pickleball or something?
That’s cool I guess. But why is ESPN sending him to a table tennis brand HQ lol. Also Lin already retired in 2025 right? So is he even allowed to “train” for TV?
I saw a clip somewhere that said he was in North Bethesda and I thought that meant he was playing again?? Like maybe he’s making a comeback with the Knicks or something. JOOLA sounds like a weird place for NBA players to go, unless it’s like cross-training with friends. I’m confused but it feels kinda wholesome.
Linsanity is still my memory of that whole Knicks run, like he literally popped outta nowhere. Now he’s at JOOLA headquarters?? Table tennis training for NBA Finals coverage??? I don’t even know what JOOLA is besides those ping pong tables in gyms. ESPN better not mess up the story though, cause it feels like they’re gonna turn it into some recap montage.